Circular knitting machine



May 17, 1932. slRMAY 1,858,469

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORMay 17, 1932. slRMAY 1,858,469

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1932-J. SIRMAY 1,858,469

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v ay),

97.10. i cd A? IN NTOR BY-ATTORN .Q w

relation at another place).

Patented May 17, i932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JULIUS SIRMAY, FPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JACQIIAJRD KNIT- TING MACHINE(30., INC., .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINEApplication filed October 16, 1930. Serial No. 489,118.

My invention relates to circular rib or multi-needle-bank knittingmachines so constructed or so provided with attern mechanism that apattern or other ancy effect can be produced on one side of the fabric(called the face) by selectively knitting the same from two or moreyarns; that is to say, by forming some of the stitches in individualrows appearing on the face of the fabric from one yarn, and forming theremainder from another or other yarns.

It is frequently desired that a fabric having such a fancy face, shouldhave its 0 posite side or back knitted selectively rom the various yarnsalso; but usually it is satisfactory to have this selective knitting atthe back done in a more or less regular manner. So-called twill backsbacks are examples for brevity, I herein call backs of this kind fancyeffect backs, since I believe that their greatest utility, if not theirsole utility, is in connection with the knitting of pattern or otherfancy effects on the face of fabrics. Furthermore, it is frequentlydesirable that machines capable of producing such fancy fabrics, shouldalso be capable of producing plain fabrics alternate- 1y, at will, andparticularly plain fabrics having different relations between the numberof stitches in their faces and the number of stitches in their backs (ora single continuous plain fabric having a certain relation between thestitches in its back and the stitches in its face at one place, andanother Plain fabrics such as 2:2 and 1z1 rib are examples. Of

course, such plain fabrics require backs differing from the fancy-effectback ofthe fancy fabrics, and usually differing from each other.

An object of the present invention is to provide for the knitting ofboth fancy-effect and plain fabric backs, and an arrangement for thispurpose wherein the change from one kind of back to another is readilymade.

According to the present invention, I employ for the needles on whichthe backs are knitted, independently sliding needles differing amongthemselves in form (e. g, distinguished among themselves by having highand/or birdseye and low butts, or long and short shanks, or some havingone butt and others two butts, etc.) and a number of needle-projectingcams for more or less alternate use as hereinafter explained.

While the invention is applicable to multineedle-bank machines ofvarious kinds, for example to machines having their needles arranged incoaxial cylinders, as well as to dial and cylinder machines, aswillbecome apparent, I believe it will be applied most often to dial andcylinder machines; that is to say, to machines in which (in eachmachine) the needles are arranged in a cylinder and a cooperating dial.I shall therefore describe the invention as applied to a dial andcylinder machines; from this application its application to other formsof machines will be understood. Furthermore, since in dial and cylindermachines the fancy face of the fabric is customarily produced on thecylinder needles, I have here illustrated a machine so constructed. Itwill be understood however that dial and cylinder ma chines can be sobuilt. that the fancy effect is produced on the dial needles and theback made on the cylinder needles, and hence when I use the termcylinder herein I include dial as an alternative, and vice versa, exceptwhen the contrary may appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, a plan view, and Fig. 2, avertical section to illustrate particularly a pattern mechanism, showmore or less diagrammatically sufficient of a dial and cylinder machinetoenable the parts thereof concerned with the present invention to beidentified. Fig. 3, an elevation,

illustrates a known mounting for needle raising cams for cylinderneedles and mechanism for moving the same to and from operative positionat will. known form of dial cam mounting and mechanism for shiftingneedle projecting cams for the dial needles to and from operativeposition at will. Figs. 5 to illustrate diagrammatically various needleand cam arrangements for knitting the backs of fabrics, in accordancewith my invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2: The stationary cylinder 1 andstationary dial 2 (con- Fig. 4 also illustrates a.

stituting the beds of the two banks of needles employed in thismachine), the rotating cam cylinder 3, dial cam cap 4, the vertical post7 supporting the dial and dial cap and the upper and lower stationarybed plates 5 and 6 on which the foregoing are mounted, will berecognized, as will also the independently sliding latch needles shownin the cylinder and dial. The cam cylinder 3 and dial cap 4 rotatesynchronously of course. For the purpose of illustrating the fact thatthe machine is a multiple yarn machine (adapted to feed a number ofyarns simultaneously but sepa rately, that is to say, for separateknitting by the needles) three yarn guides 8, 9 and 10 are illustrated,each supplying one yarn to the cylinder and dial needles; it will beunderstood from what follows however that a greater or lesser number ofyarns (and feeds) may be used. It can be assumed too that each feedincludes a stitch cam or stitch cams 23 on the dial cap 4 to retract allrojected dial needles as each feed passes. o far as the presentinvention is concerned, broadly speaking, any kind of mechanism can beused to direct the knitting of the fancy-effect face of the fabrics, solong as it is of the sort which causes the needles of theface-forming'bank to be knitted on selectively from the different yarnsas the desired fancy-effect may require; that is to say, in individualrowsiof the stitches appearing on the face of the fabric,

cause some of the stitches to be knit from one yarn and the remainder tobe knit from another or other yarns.

acting in the manner described) can applied to either the cylinderneedles orthe dial needles as before pointed out. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention,"I have here shown a machine which has apattern mechanism (Fig. 2) of a well known true jacquard type, and thispattern mechanism is applied to the cylinder needles. Briefly describingthe pattern mechanism here shown: It consists of a plurality of patterndrums 14, distributed around the needle cylinder, each carrying apattern 15 controlling a group of needle raising levers 16. There maybe, say, one of these levers 16 for each of the cylinder needles, andeach of the cylinder needles, if not long enough, may be provided withan extension or jack reaching down to its lever 16. The outer end ofeach lever is slotted at 17 and the supporting rods 18 for the outerends of the levers (one rod for the levers of each drum) pass throughthe slots of the respective groups; the inner ends of the levers rest ona second cam cylinder 19, or section of the cam cylinder, which isrotated synchronously with the cam cylinder or cam cylinder section 3.In their normal at rest positions (shown in Fig. 2) these levers 16 donot quite reach underneath their re- Also this pattern:- mechanism(including in the term pattern. mechanism any and all kinds ofmechanisms spective needles. The cam cylinder or cam cylinder section 19can be assumed to be provided with a needle-raising cam in each of thefeeds (yarns) of the machine; these cams engage the inner ends of thelevers 16 however, rather than the cylinder needles directly. Each ofthe pattern drums 14 is slotted lengthwise,- and the distance betweeneach twoadjacent slots represents one step in the rotation of the drum.The pattern drums argiurned step by step successively, each bemgturnedone step (for example, by known mechanism, not illustrated)shortly before eachof the feeds reaches the group of levers 16 whichthat pattern drum controls; wherever this brings a perforation in thecorresponding pattern 15 underneath the feeder 20 ofv one of the levers16, that feeler falls into i the drum slot below theperforation andconsequently the lever is,

by further or continuous turning of its drum 14, pushed in underneathits cylinder needle, so that the stitch cam on thecam cylinder 19 of theapproaching feed can raise that or those levers 16 whose feelers findperforations and thereby raise the corresponding needles to (forexample) clearing position; where however a feeler 20 finds noperforation in the pattern 15 below it at the time, the lever 16carrying-that feeler remains in the outer posi'tion' illustrated, inFig. 2, so that the passing needle-raising cam on the cam cylinder 19,while raising that or those levers 16, does not raise the correspondingneedles, and hence the :needles corresponding to the levers 16 *whosefeelers 2O find no perforations in their pattern 15 at the time, do notknit as that feed passes. The cam cylinder or cam. cylinder sectlon 3can be assumed to carry a stitch cam 22 in each feed for retracting thecylinder needles to complete the stitches in the customary manner. Atthe various passes of the various feeds, the cylinder needles knitselectively therefore, (in the making of fancy fabrics at least), eachneedle knitting a complete stitch as and when the feeler of the lever 16below it finds a perforation in its pattern 15. As each feed passesbeyond levers 16 that have been moved inwardly as described, andconsequently the inner ends of those levers 16 fall again toward theirposition in Fig. 2, those levers are returned longitudinally to theirposition illustrated in Fig. 2; this may be done by known mechanism; forexample, by or with the assistance of the individual lever springs 21.It will be observed of course that the pattern mechanism is capable ofknitting rows of face stitches each of which is made up entirely ofstitches mixed with rows of face stitches in each of' which somestitches are made from one \yarn position, a toothed sector 32,

and the remainder are made from another or other yarns.

The knitting of the faces of the fancy fabrics is done with the aid' ofthe pattern mechanism as will be understood from the foregoing. In theknitting of plain fabrics, or a considerable length of plain fabrics(when the cylinder needles cast-off and take on yarn in a more or lessregular manner), the pattern mechanism can be employed to direct theoperations of the cylinder needles also; or in the alternative (and thiswill generally be found preferable), mechanism such as employed onmachines adapted to make plain fabric only, can be substituted for thepattern mechanism. For example, in the machine illustrated, the camcylinder 3 can be provided with needle raising cams, say one in eachfeed, movable into and out of operative position with respect to theneedle butts 25; and, for .example by the use of high and low buttneedles in the cylinder and by the use of cams of diflerent thicknesses(the thick cams engageable with the ow butts as well as the high butts,and the thin cams engageable only with the high butts), the cylinderneedles can be made to stitch in different regular orders as needed inthe production of the different plain fabrics desired, as will beunderstood. Mechanisms of various types can be employed for shiftingthese needle-raising cams into, and out of operating position; the knownmechanism illustrated in Fig. 3 is illustrative. With this mechanism, aeach needle raising cam 26 is carried on a vertically sliding rod 27mounted in the cam cylinder 3, and above the top of the cam cylindereach of these rods is fastened to a downwardly extending head 28projecting over the side of the cam cylinder 3 and provided with ashoulder 29 and gear teeth 30. A spring 31, anchored to the side of thecam cylinder 3, tends to pull down each head 28, and therey therespective needle-raising cam 26, to the lower or inoperative positionof the latter. To raise the cam 26 to its operative carried on a bracket33 mounted on the cam cylinder 3, meshes with the teeth 30 and has keyedto it a finger 34. By turning this finger 34 in a clockwise direction(Fig. 3) the corresponding needle-raising cam 26 is raised, and as thelatter reaches its operative position. the head 35 of a lever 36 hingedat 37 in the side of the cam cylinder 3 (and spring pressed outwardly)snaps under the shoulder 29 of the head 28, and thus serves to hold thecam 26 in its upper or operating position, against the thrust of theneedle butts on the cam and the pull of spring 31, until the head 35 oflever 36 is again knocked back from underneath the shoulder. It can beassumed that each of the cylinder needle-raising cams 26 is providedwith such a mechanism, so that they are independently movable at willinto and out of operating position. Obviously the fingers 34 and holdinglevers 35-36 can be operated by hand, or automatically by suitablecontrol mechanism on the machine. When, as here, the pattern mechanismneeds to be or can be held out of operation while plain fabric is beingmade, various kinds of mechanisms can be employed to put the patternmechanism into and out of operation. To some extent, the nature willdepend on the kind of pattern mechanism employed of course. Variousmechanisms are known for discontinuing the operation of such patternmechanisms as that shown in Fig. 2; for illustrative purposes, I haveshown one wherein each of the lever-carrying rods 18 is mounted inabracket 42 carried by an individual rod 43 sliding through the bed plate5 and normallyspring pressed downwardly (by 44.) into the positionillustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the feelers 20 are in engagement withpatterns 15; by raising one of the rods 43 however, the correspondinglever carrying rod 18 can be raised so high that the feelers 20 of thelevers 16 it carries are raised entirely out of contact with theirpattern 15. The corresponding pattern section is thereby put out ofaction. To thus raise and lower the various rods 43 of the machineshown, it can be assumedthat each is provided with a head 45 engageablewith an individual star shaft as a it is apwheel 46 keyed to the sameshort second individual star wheel 47;

parent that by turning any of the star wheels 47 until one of the pointsof its associated star Wheel 46 is thrust underneath its head 45, thecorresponding rod 43 can be raised andthe corresponding section of thepattern mechanism put out of operation; while by turning the same starwheels another step, or until a notch of star wheel 46 comes underneathits associated head 45, the corresponding lever-carrying rod 18 isdropped again and the pattern mechanism section thereby returned tooperation. As with respect to the needle-raising cams 26, the patternmechanism sections may be put into and out of operation byhand, orautomatically by known mechanism.

So much for a circular rib machine to which the present invention isapplicable.

eferring now to the remaining figures: Each of Figs. 5 to 10 shows anaggregate of such back-forming needles as are suitable, in cooperationwith the cams respectively shown, to form some one set of fabric backs.In each figure however, only about as many needles have been shown asare needed to explain the invention; in any machine, the

backs other than those herein mentioned is desired. For the needles onwhich the backs of the fabrics are formed (here, for illustrativepurposes, assumed to be the dial needles) I propose to employindependently sliding needles as before stated, and independentlysliding needles differing among themselves in form so as to beprojectable to or toward clearing position e. g. to positions where theloops fall behind the needle latches) by a number of cams as heredescribed. Each feed will include a stitch cam (not shown) to retractall the projected needles. as will be understood. To project theback-forming needles I provide, first, cams in number at least equal tothe number of lots into which it is necessary to divide the back-formingneedles in order to produce the particular selective knitting at theback and the particular fancy-efiect back desired; these cams I mount indifferent races or at different distances from the edge of the bed inwhich the back-forming needles are carried (here the dial 3) and thesecams I allocate to different yarns (e. g., place in different feeds).These first-mentioned cams are used for making the fancy-effect back.The needles of each of the lots into which it is necessary to divide theback-forming needles in order to obtain the desired fancyetfect back areprovided with butts engageable by one of these cams, so that each ofthese cams can project the needles of one of these lots to or towardclearing position. Thus, referring first to Fig. 5 wherein it is assumedthat the fancy-effect back desired requires that alternate back-formingneedles knit at each feed (and hence the back-forming needles are to bedivided into two lots), cams 53 and constitute these fancy-effect cams,the needles 52 composing one of the lots are provided with buttsengageable by came 53 so that this cam 53 can project the needles ofthis lot 52 to or toward clearing position at the proper times to knitfrom the yarn from yarn guide 8, and the needles 54 con'iposing thesecond lot are provided with butts for engagement with the cam 55 whichis located farther away from the edge of the dial than the cam 53 and isso located angularly that it projects its needles 54 to or toward theirclearing positions at proper times to knit from the yarn from yarn guide9. \Vhen the dial needles are to be divided into more than two lots forthe formation of the fancy-effect back, another fancy-effect cam 57(Fig. 6) is located still farther away from the edge of the dial. andthe needles 56 of the third lot are provided with butts for engagementby this third fancy-effect cam 57 so as to be projected thereby at theproper times to knit from a third yarn, say the yarn from yarn guide 10;and so on. In Fig. 5 it will be observed that needles in addition to theneedles 52 have butts at the same distance from their hooks as theneedles 52; the purpose of this possible arrangement is explainedhereafter; it is sufficient for the present to point out that the buttsof the needles 52 are high butts, whereas the butts of the needles 54lying in the same race are low butts, and the cams 53 are thin cams,whereby the latter are able to project only the needles 52; they passover adjacent butts of needles 5i without engaging them.

To these first-mentioned cams employed for making the fancy-effect back,I add at least one more cam 60 to project back-forming needles when one(here called the first of the desired plain fabrics is being knitte Whenthe back-forming needles are divided into two lots for the formation ofthe fancyeffect back, I mount this cam 60 in a race, or at a distancefrom the edge of the backforming needle bed, different from that atwhich any of the first-mentioned or fancyeffect cams (at least of thesame cam group) are mounted; thus for example, in Fig. 5 cam 60 islocated farther from the edge of the dial than even cam 55. -.In otherwords, I provide the back-forming needleswith at least threeneedle-projecting cams, mountedat not less than three differentdistances from the edge of their bed. When the backforming needles aredivided into more than two lots for the formation of the fancy-effectback, this cam 60 for the first plain fabric can also be mounted at adistance from the edge of the needle bed different from that of any ofthe fancy-effect cams of the same cam group as shown for example in Fig.6; but when the back-forming needles are divided into three or morefancy-effect lots, the first plain-fabric cam 60 can usually be locatedat the same distance from the bed edge as one of the fancy-effect cams53, 55, 57, etc., as shown for example in Fig. 7, where it will beobserved that cam 60 is located at the same distance from the edge ofthe needle bed (in the same race, as it were) as cam 55. As a matter offact, needleprojecting cams in three races or at three differentdistances from the edge of the bed of the back-forming needles, areenough to produce all the different backs that I seem to find knittersordinarily require at present. This added cam 60 (and each of them, ifthere be more than one) is so located as to project its needles to ortoward clearing position at the proper times to knit from some one ofthe yarns of the machine; usually however I place it in about the sameangular position (around the axis of the machine) as one of the firstmentioned or fancy-effect cams, that is to say, allocate it to the sameyarn or yarn guide or place it in the same feed as one of thefancy-effect cams, as illustrated in Fig. 5 for example; in that figureit will be observed that this first plain-fabric cam 60 is so placedthat the needles it projects angular can knit from the same yarn guide 8as the needles projected b the fancy-effect cam 53; each cam 60 can elocated in a different position from that of any of the fancy-effectcams however, and each can have its own individual yarn guide. All theneedles of the back-forming bank which are to knit in forming the backof this first of the plain fabrics may beprovided with butts engageableby the plain fabric cam 60, as illustrated in Fig. 5 for example; itbeing assumed in Fig. 5 that the first plain-fabric desired is such asrequires the back-forming needles to knit in pairs (two knitting and thenext two being skipped) two needles of the aggregate (there the middletwo) are provided with extra long shanks to engage with the cam 60. Fig.6 is also illustrative of this correlation between the first plainfabriccam 60 and the needles. Incidentally, it will be noted from Figs. 5 and6 that for brevity I use the phrase needle butt herein as including theend of a needle shank engaging a cam. Alternative to knitting all theneedles needed for the first plain fabric by means of the plain fabriccam 60 (see Fig. 7, for example) When the needles required for thisplain fabric include all the needles of one of the lots into which thebackforming needles are divided for the purposes of making thefancy-effect back (lot 52 in Fig. 7), the plain-fabric cam 60 can beplaced in the same angular position as the fancyeffect cam provided forthat lot (cam 53 in Fig. 7), and only so many of the needles of theother lot or lots as are needed for this first plain-fabric (some or allof 54 for example) need then have butts engageable by the plain-fabriccam; in such a case, both the plain-fabric cam and the adjacentfancyefiect cam (53) are then employed in the making of the first plainfabric. Incidentally (see Fig. 7 again), when the back for this firstplain fabric requires the knitting of all the needles of two of thefancy-efiect lots (all of 52 and all of 54, for example), allocation ofthe plain-fabric cam 60 in the same angular position as the fancy-efiectcam (53) provided for one of these lots (52), and further, the locationif this cam 60 in the same race or at the same distance from the edge ofthe needle bed as the fancy-effect cam (55) serving the other lot (54)avoids the necessity for providing (some, at least, of the) needles withextra butts solely for the production of the'first plain fabric, as willbe apparent from Fig. 7. Fig. 8 illustrates another possible arrangementwhen the first plain fabric includes all the needles of one of the lots(54) into which the backforming needles are divided for the purpose ofmaking the fancy-effect back Here the butts on the needles 54 are highbutts, and their coacting fancy-effect cam 55 is a thin cam; that is tosay, cam 55 is thick enough to engage the high butts of needles 54 butis so th1n as to pass over lower butts, such as those shown on needles56, without touchin the latter; the plain-fabric cam is placed at thesame distance from the edge of the needle bank as the cam 55, and ismade thick enough to engage both high and low butts; then such of theneedles (here some or all of 56) are needed in addition to needles 54 toproduce the back for the first desired plain fabric, are PIOXlClGd withlow butts; obviously when only cams 53, 55 and 57 are in operation (cam60 out of action) the desired fancy-effect back will be produced; on theother hand, when the cams 53, 55 and 57 are out of action and cam 60 isworking, all the needles 54 will knit and such of needles 56 as areprovided with low butts in the same race will knit also.

In order that the back for the first plainfabric and the back for thefancy fabric may be made alternately at will by means of such cams asthose described, with reference to Fig. 5 and the subsequent figures:The plainfabric cam 60 (and all of them, if there are more than one), isso mounted as to be movable into and out of action at will. By havingthis first-plain-fabric cam 60 (or all of them, if there be more thanone) out of action, the back-forming needles are left free forprojection by the fancy-effect cams 53, 55, 57 (and the others, if therebe more of them). In general, I also mount all these fancyeffect cams insuch a manner that they too can be moved into and out of action. Theonly exception is when the desired first plainfabric back requires allthe needles of some one of the fancy-effect lots to knit, and thefirst-plain-fabric cam 60 is located in the same angular position as thefancy-effect cam serving that lot. that figure it is assumed that thedesired first plain-fabric requires the knitting of all the needles 54(as well as some or all of needles 56) and cam 60 is allocated to thesame yarn guide 9 as the fancy-effect cam 55. In such an arrangement thefancy-effect cam 55 need not'be movableinto and out of action, but canbe left in action at all times, unless the knitting needed to producethe back for the second or another plain-fabric requires that this cam55 be out of action when this second or another plain-fabric is beingmade. Fig. 7 is also illustrative of the same situation; in this figure,since only needles 54 have butts engageable with plain-fabric cam 60,the cam 60 and cam 53 must be used together in order to make the backfor the first plain fabric. However, even when the arrangement is suchthat one (or more) of the fancyefl'ect cams can be left in action so faras some set of fabrics is concerned, I usually mount them all formovement into or out of action, since to do so enlarges the capabilitiesof the machine at least potentially, either Fig. 6 is illustrative; in

with or without the addition of cams other than those mentioned herein.

The manner in which the movable backforming cams are mounted formovementinto and out of action is not concerned with the presentinvention, and various movable mountings are known. Likewise the presentinvention is not concerned with any particular mechanism formoving thesecams to and from operating position except that I prefer that themechanism be such that they are independently movable, and variousmechanisms for this purpose also are known. Should the backs of thefabrics be made on cylinder needles, Fig. 3 will serve as illustrativeof a suitable mounting of and operating mechanism for each of themovable cams of Fig. 5 and the subsequent figures. Where the backs areknitted on dial needles (as is assumed in the machine shown in Figs. 1and 2), Fig. 4 is illustrative of a suitable mounting and cam-operatingmechanism. In Fig. 4, the cam 61 may be any one of the cams mentioned inconnection with Figs. 5 and the subsequent figures; this is hinged at 62on a pin carried in the dial cap 4. A pin 63 projecting upwardly fromthe cam 61 through an arcuate slot 64 in the dial cap, stands in a slotof a lever 65 hinged to the dial cap at 66 and provided with a secondslot into which extends a pin 67 of a finger lever 68 hinged at 69 toand above the dial cap. A spring 69 anchored to the dial cap andfastened to pin 67 tends to turn these two levers in such a direction asto retract the cam 67 to its inoperative position. A shoulder 7 O on thelever 65 is engageable by a shoulder on a second finger lever 71 hingedto the dial cap at 72, and which is pulled by its spring 73 toward theengaging position illustrated in Fig. 4. When the shoulders are engagedat 70, it is obvious that finger lever 71 holds cam 61 in operatingposition. Usually finger levers 68 and 71 were placed at differentlevels. and extend beyond the edge of the dial cap for ready access aswill be understood. The operation of this mechanism is rather apparent;a slight turn of finger lever 71 clockwise releases its engagement withlever 65 at shoulder 7 0, thereby permitting spring 69 to retract thecam to inoperative position; this movement also turns finger lever 68counter-clockwise to a corresponding extent. Re-

. turn of the lever 68 clockwise returns all the parts to theirpositions illustrated in this figure. The levers 68 and 71 can beshifted manually, or automatically by mechanism on the knitting machineas will be understood.

For knitting the back of a second and/or the last of the desired plainfabrics, I provide mechanism additional to the cams per so hereinbeforedescribed. Where the. first plain fabric cam 60 occupies the sameangular position around the axis of the knitting machine as one of thefancy-effect cams, and the second desired fabric is such that its backcan be knitted by the joint and simultaneous action of. this cam 60 andthe adjacent fancyefi'ect cam (occupying the same angular position) suchmounting and control of these two cams that they can be moved into andout of action independently of each other is all that is absolutelyessential to the production of the second plain-fabric. Fig. 8 containsan example; it is there assumed that the second plain-fabric requiresthe knitting of all the back-forming needles from one yarn (or from eachof a number of yarns) and cam 60 isa thick cam, cam 55 is thin, needles54 have high butts and (it can be assumed, all) needles 56 have lowbutts; hence by the simultaneous use of 60 and. 53, all the needles aremade to knit from the yarn from guide 8 when the second plain fabric isrequired. In such cases the mountings of these cams (e. g. 60 and 53 inFig. 8), or the mountings and the mechanism for shifting them wherebythey are independently movable to and from operating positions (forexample, mechanisms of Fig. 3 or Fig. 4), constitutes mechanism inaddition to the cams per se whereby the back for the second plain fabricis produceable. Usually, however, for knitting the back of the second oranother plain fabric, 1 provide an additional cam or cams, that is tosay a cam or cams additional to those already mentioned; in such a case,the added cam (or "cams), and the operating mechanism therefor, if any,can be regarded as constituting the mechanism additional to thepreviously described cams whereby the another plain fabric is made. Forbrevity I herein call such a cam the second plain fabric cam. It can belocated at still another distance from the edge of the needle-bed (i.e., at a distance different from that of cams 60, 53, 55, 57, etc.,described), but consonant with the idea before expressed that cams atthree distances are ordinarily suflicicnt (three cam races, as

it were) I usually locate it at the same distance from the bed-edge asone of the cams previously described. This second plain-fabric cam canbe allocated to its own individual yarn guide, but usually andpreferably I place it in substantially the same angular position aroundthe axis of the machine as one of the fancy-effect cams. Fig. 5 is anexample; here a second plain-fabric cam 7 8 is allocated to the yarnguide 9 and is placed at the same distance from the edge of the needlebed as the fancy-effect cam 53. As with re spect to the plain-fabric cam60, all the back forming needles to be knitted by this secondplain-fabric cam (or cams) can have butts engageable by the latter, andwhere this second plain-fabric cam (or cams) 78 is placed at the samedistance from the edge of the needle bed (in the same race, as it were)as one of the cams previously mentioned, I make the previously mentionedcam in the I 54 also. Alternative (in some instances) to butts, and lowbutts in the same race are same race thick and the addedsecondlaintrated and described my invention with reffabric cam 78 thin,or vice versa, and diserence to comparatively simple arrangetinguishbetween the needles to be knit by ments, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in thcse two cams by the use of high and low this art thatarrangements more efficient than butts as the construction of the backsof the those illustrated can be built up on the printwo fabrics to beproduced by these two (or ciples here laid down. For example, thearmore) cams of this race may require. Fig. rangement of Fig. 5 ermitsthe machineto is also illustrative of this; fancy-effect cam be operatedas a twoeed machine when pat- 53 is a thin cam and the secondplain-fabric tern fabrics are being made, but when any cam 7 8 is thick;the needles 52 to be projected one of the plain fabrics is being made,the by 53 in the making of the fancy-effect back machine can operate asonly a single feed are provided with high butts, which alone machine. Byduplicating plain-fabric cams are engageable by 53; and the needlesaddiand appropriately changing the arrangetional to 52 to be projectedby the second m'ent of the butts or the needles, plain fabricplain-fabric cam 78 (here all the needles 54) can be made onmultiple-feeds also. For exare given low butts at the same distance fromample, 1n Fig. 9 cam is duplicated in both the needle ends as the highbutts on 52; as a feeds; likewise cam 78 is duplicated at bothconsequence cam 53 projects only needles 52, feeds; the butts of theneedles 54 running while cam 78 projects needles 52 and needles in therace containing cam 55 are made high providing all the back-formingneedles of provided on the needles 52; cam 55 is a thin the second plainfabric with butts engageable cam like cam 53, and both cams 78 arethick; by the second plain-fabric cam, this second otherwise thearrangement is like that of Fig. plain-fabric cam can be allocated tothe same 5, but the result of the changesis that the yarn (or yarnguide) as one or more of the machine can be operated as a multifeed ma-9o cams previously mentioned, and onl those chine While making the plainfabrics as well needles additional to the needles pro ectable as whenmaking the pattern fabric, with a by the last mentioned cam may beprovided correspondlng increase in the yardage per with butts engageableby the second plainday. Again, I have so far described my infabric cam.Fig.6is illustrative of this;here vention as applied to machines havingrethe second plain-fabric cam 79 is allocated spectively the leastnumber of feeds with to yarn guide 9 to which the first plain-fabricwhich it is possible to produce those particcam 60-is also allocated,and only needles ular fabric-backs which, for illustrative pur- 52 havebutts engageable by cam 79; by the poses, I have assumed to be desired.A greatjoint and simultaneous use of cams 60 and 7 9, er number of feedsmay be employed howall the back-forming needles are made to knit ever;and when a machine having a greater from the yarn from guide 9. In Fig.7, either number of feeds is desired, I usually, for the cam 80 or cam60 can be regarded as a greater all-around efficiency, make thenumsecond plain-fabric cam, and the other is then her of feeds amultiple of that number which the first plain-fabric cam, for by thejoint is required to produce the desired fancyme use of either 80 and53, or 60 and 53, two adeffect back; thus when the desired fancyjacentneedles are made to knit from one yarn effect back requires the knittingof alternate and each third needle skips, while by having needles (F i5) I usually provide the maall three cams 53, 60 and 80 in actionsimulchine with our feeds, or six feeds, or eight taneously, all theback-forming needles are feeds, etc., and make the cams of each two madeto knit from the yarn from guide 8. adjacent feeds like the cams of thenext two The second and/or last plain-fabric cam (01' adjacent feeds;obviously other numbers of cams), of which 78, 79 and 80 arerepresentafeeds and other cam arrangements can be tive, is (or are)mounted for movement into employed however if desired, or for specialand out of operating position, and may be purposes' Incidentally,Iregardfancy-effect provided with mechanism for operating it, backs produced byknitting alternate needles that is to say, for moving it to and from op-(Fig. 5) as preferable. Fig. 10 illustrates my crating position as withrespect to the cams preferred application of the embodiment ofpreviously mentloned, Figs. 3 and 4 are repig. 5 to a six feed machine;the numerals 8, resentative of suitable mountings and operat- 9, 10, 11,12 and 13 point to the yarn guides; ing mechanisms for such additionalcams, the operation with the arrangement of this Fig. 3 when the back isformed on cylinder figure will be understood when it is observed needlesand Fig. 4 when the back is formed that the needles and cams have thesame refon dial needles. erence characters as in Fig. 5, and when it isWhile I herein describe the second plain remembered that cams 53 arethin cams (enfabric as one in which the back requires the gagea-ble withonly the long butts of needles knitting of all the back-forming needlesat 52) and that cams 78 are thick (and hence one'feed (or at each of anumber of feeds) engageable with butts of both 52 and 54). If it will beapparent that my invention is not the two feeds represented by the yarnguides so limited. Also, while I have thus far illus- 12 and 13 andtheir associated cams are dis- 13.

regarded, Fig. 10 will also illustrate the preferred application of myinvention to a four feed machine- Obviously my invention is not limitedto the embodiments illustrated; indeed, so many embodiments of myinvention are possible that it is impossible to illustrate them all.Incidentally, it will be observed that with any given arra of cams, thestitching can be changed by su stituting an array of needles havinganother arrangement of their butts. Furthermore, cams additional tothose described can be applied to a machine embodying my invention toserve other purposes, as will be understood.

Still further, in describing various cams of the back-forming needles asmounted at different distances from the edge of their needle bed, Iaccurately describe the arrangement where the back is knitted on onebank of needles. However, in a knitting machine having its needlesmounted in more than two banks, and where the back is knitted by theneedles of more than one of the banks, various of the cams operatingback-forming needles here described as mounted at different distancesfrom the bed edge may be mounted at equal distances from the edges ofthe re spective beds supportin the needles they respectively operate.buch machines are unusual however, and the manner in which the presentinvention can be applied to them will be understood by those skilled inthis art. It will sufiice therefore to point out that the claimshereinafter are intended to be construed broadly enough to include theapplication of the present invention to such machines. And stillfurther, I have hereinbefore referred to various of the cams asprojecting the needles to or toward their clearing positions. Usually Iactually use the needle projecting cams illustrated to project theneedles to their clearing positions; but an obvious departure from thispractice (as will be understood) is to use the cams discussed above toproject their respective needles only part way toward their clearingpositions, say to a tuck position, where they are within the reach offurther cams which will serve to carry the partly-projected needlesforward to the complete clearing positions. I intend herein to coverboth of these forms.

Finally, it will be observed that the claims hereafter frequently definethe invention in a form incorporating, or specifically mentioning, onlythe least number of cams capable of performing the functions of whichthe structures of the respective claims are capable. It will beunderstood that I intend them to include arrangements wherein camsadditional to those specifically mentioned are included.

I claim:

1. In a circular multi-needle-bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans including means for feeding simultaneously a plurality of yarnsseparately, attern mechanism to cause the needles on w liich the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,a plurality of fancye'lfect needle-projecting cams for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted atdifferent distances from the edge of the bed for said backformingneedles and being allocated to different yarns of said plurality ofsimultaneously-fed yarns, and at least one plain-fabricneedle-projecting cam, for the needles on which the back of the fabricis knitted, so placed as to cause needles projected by it to knit fromone of the yarns of the knitting machine and being movable into and outof operating position, said fancy effectand plain fabric cams togetherbeing located at more than two different distances from the edge of thebed for said back-forming needles, and at least those of saidfancy-effect needle-projecting cams other than any that may be so placedas to cause needles projected thereby to knit from the same yarn asneedles projected by a plain-fabric cam being movable into and out ofoperating position.

In a circular multi-needle-bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans including means for feeding simultaneously a plurality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,a plurality of fancy-effect needle-projecting cams for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted atdifferent distances from the edge of the bed for said back-formingneedles and being allocated to difi'erent yarns of said plurality ofsimultaneously-fed yarns, and at least one plainfabric needle-projectingcam, for the needles on which the back of the fabric is knitted, soplaced as to cause needles projected by it to knit from one of the yarnsof the knitting machine and being movable into and out of operatingposition, said fancy effect and plain fabric cams together being locatedat more than two different distances from the edge of the bed for saidback-forming needles and all of said fancy-effect cams being movableinto and out of operating position.

3. In a circular multi-needle-bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans including means for feeding simultaneously a pillrality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,a plurality of fancyeifect needle-projecting cams for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted atdifferent distances from the edge of the bed for said backformingneedles and being allocated to different yarns of said plurality ofsimultaneousl -fed yarns, and at least one plain-fabric neele-projecting cam, for needles on which the back of the fabric isknitted, mounted in substantially the same angular position as one ofsaid fancy-effect cams and being movable into and out of operatingposition, said fancy-effect and plain-fabric cams together being locatedat more than two different distances from the edge of the bed for saidbackfol'ming needles, and at least all of said fancy-effectneedle-projectin cams other than such as are located in su stantiallythe same angular position as said one plainfabriccam being movable intoand out of operating position.

4. In a circular multi-needle-bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans including means for feeding simultaneously a plurality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selected, twofancy-effect needle-projecting cams for the needles on which the back ofthe fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted at two differentdisstances from the edge of the bed for said back-forming needles andbeing allocated to two different yarns of said plurality ofsimultaneously-fed yarns, and at least one plain-fabricneedle-projecting cam, for the needles on which the back of the fabricis knit-ted, so placed as to cause needles projected by it to knit fromone of the yarns of the knitting machine and being movable into and'outof o crating position and being located at a third distance from theedge of the bed for said back-forming needles, and at least one of saidfancy-effect needleprojecting cams, being movable into and out ofoperating position.

5. In a circular multi-needle-bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans including means for feeding simultaneously a plurality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,three fancyeflect needle-projecting cams for the needles on which theback of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted at threedifferent distances from the edge of the bed for said back-formingneedles and being allocated to different yarns of said plurality ofsimultaneously-fed yarn, and at least one for the fabricneedle-projecting cam, for the needles on which the back of the fabricis knitted, so placed as to cause needles projected by it to knit fromone of the yarns of the knitting machine and being movable into and outof operating position and being located at substantially the samedistance from the edge of the bed for said back-forming needles as oneof the first mentioned cams, and at of simultaneously-fed yarns,

least such of said fancy-effect needle-projecting cams, other than anythat may be placed in substantially the same angular position as a saidplain fabric needle-projecting cam, being movable into and out ofoperating position.

6. In a circular multi-needle bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans including means for feeding simultaneously a plurality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to' cause the needles on which the facethe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,a plurality of fancy-effect needle-projecting cams for the needleson'which the back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted atdifferent distances from the edge of the bed for said back-formingneedles and being allocatedoto different yarns of said plurality ofsimultaneously fed yarns, and at least one plain fabricneedle-projecting cam, for the needles on which the back. of the fabricis knitted, so placed as to cause needles projected by it to knit fromone of the yarns of the knitting machine and being movable into and outof operating position, said'fancyeffect and plain fabric cams togetherbeing located at three diflerent distances fromthe edge of the bed forsaid back-forming needles, and at least such of said fancy-effectneedle-projecting cams as have an angular position different from thatof said plain fabric needle-projecting cam being movable into and out ofoperating position.

7. In a circular multi-needle-bed knittin machine having yarn-feedingmeans inclutg ing means for feeding simultaneously a plm rality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,a plurality of fancy-effect needle-projecting cams for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted atdifferent distances from the edge of the bed In for said back-formingneedles and being allocated to different yarns of said plurality atleast one plain-fabric needle-projecting cam, for the needles on whichthe back of the fabric is knitted, so placed as to cause needlesprojected by it to knit from'one of the yarns of the knitting machineand being movable into and out of operating position, said fancyelfectand plain-fabric cams together being located at more than two differentdistances from the edge of the bed for said back-forming needles, and atleast those of said fancyeffect needle-projecting cams other than anythat may be so placed as to cause needles projected thereby to knit fromthe same yarn as needles projected by a plain-fabric cam being movableinto and out of operating position, and mechanism additional to theaforementioned cams per se for the knitting of another plain fabric.

8. In a circular multi-needle-bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans including means for feeding simultaneously a plurality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,a plurality of fancy-effect needle-projecting cams for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted atdifferent distances from the edge of the bed for said back-formingneedles and being allocated to different yarns of said plurality, atleast one plain fabric needle projecting cam, for the needles on whichthe back of the fabric is knitted, so placed as to cause needlesprotected by it to knit from the same yarn as needles projected by oneof the first mentioned cams, said fancy-effect and plain fabric camstogether being located at more than two different distances from theedge of the bed for said back-forming needles, and all of saidfancy-effect and plain fabric cams being movable into and out ofoperating position and said one plain fabric cam and the. saidfancy-effect cam the needles of which can knit from the same yarn as theneedles projected by said plain fabric cam being movable into and out ofoperating position independently of each other, and each independentlyof the remainder of said fancyelfect needle-projecting cams.

9. In a circular multi-needle-bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans including means for feeding simultaneously a plurality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,a plurality of fancy-effect needle-projecting cams for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted atdifferent distances from the edge of the bed for said back-formingneedles and being allocated to different yarns of said plurality ofsimultaneously-fed yarns, at least one plain-fabric needle-projectingcam, for the needles on which the back of the fabric is knitted, soplaced as to cause needles projected by it to knit from one of the yarnsof the knitting machine and being movable into and out of operatingposition. said fancy-effect and plain-fabric cams-together being locatedat more than two different distances from the edge of the bed for saidback-forming needles. and at least such of said fancy-effect needleprojecting cams other than any that may occupy substantially the sameangular position as said plain fabric cam being movable into and out ofoperating position, and at least one further plain fabric needleprojecting cam. for the needles on which the back of the fabric isknitted. so placed as to cause needles projected by it to knit from oneof the yarns of the knitting machine and being movable into and out ofoperating position.

10. The subject matter of claim 9 characterized by the fact that the camlast mentioned therein is placed at the same distance from the edge ofthe bed for the back-forming needles as one of the cams previouslymentioned in the claim.

11. The subject matter of claim 9 characterized by the fact that the camlast mentioned therein occupies substantially the same angular positionas one of the cams previousby mentioned in the claim.

12. The subject matter of claim 9 characterized by the fact that the camlast mentioned therein occupies substantially the same angular positionas one of the fancyeffect needle-projecting cams mentioned therein.

13. In a circular multimeedle-bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans including means for feeding simultaneously a pluralityof yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to kit from said plurality of yarns selectively, aplurality of fancyeffect needle-projecting cams for the needles on whichthe back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted at differentdistances from the edge of the bed for said back-forming needles andbeing allocated to different yarns of said plurality ofsimultaneously-fed yarns, at least one plain fabric needle-projectingcam, for the needles on which the back of the fabric is knitted. locatedin substantially the same angular position as one of said fancy-effectcams and being movable into and out of operating position. saidfancy-effect and plain fabric cams together being located at threedifferent distances from the edge of the bed for said back-formingneedles, and at least those fancy effect cams other than the said fancyeffect cam located in about the same angular position as said plainfabric cam being movable into and out of operating position, and atleast one further plain fabric needle projecting cam. for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, located in substantially thesame angular position as one of the aforementioned cams and atsubstantially the same distance from the edge of said bed for thebaclcforming needles as one o the aforementioned rams. of the lastmentioned fancy-effect cams, and the last mentioned plain fabric cam.(me being thick and the other thin 14. In a circular multi-needle bedknitting machine having means means for feeding slmultaneously aplurality of yarneparately. pattern mechanism to cause the needle onwhich the face of the fabric is kn itted to knit from said plurality ofyarns select vely, m

fancy-effect needle projecting-cams for the needles on which the back ofthe fabric is being allocated to two different yarns of said pluralityof simultaneously fed yarns, a plain fabric needle-projecting cam forthe needles on-which the back of the fabric is knitted, located insubstantially the same angular position as one of said fancy efi'ectcams and at a third distance from the edge of the bed for saidback-forming needles and being movable into and out of operatingposition, and a further plain fabric needle-projecting cam, for theneedles on which the back of the fabric is knitted, located atsubstantially the same distance from the edge of the bed for theback-forming needles as the last mentioned fancy-effect cam and insubstantially the same angular position as the other fancyeffect cam,said further plain fabric cam bein a relatively thick cam and the fancyeect cam located at substantially the same distance from theedge of theneedle bed being a relatively thin cam, said further plain fabric cambeing movable into and out of operating position.

15. In a circular multi-needle bed knitting machine-having yarn feedingmeans including means for feeding simultaneously a plurality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,a plurality of fancy-effect needle-projecting cams for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted atdiflerent distances from the edge of the bed for said back-formingneedles and being allocated to different yarns of said plurality ofsimultaneously-fed yarns, at least one plain fabric needle-projectingcam, for the needles on which the back of the fabric is knitted. soplaced as to cause needles projected 'by it to be knitted from one ofthe yarns of the knitting machine and being movable into and out ofoperating position, said fancy-effect and plain fabric cams togetherbeing located at more than two different distances from the edge of thebed of said back-forming needles, and at least those of saidfancy-effect needleprojecting cams other than any that may occupysubstantially the same angular position as said plain fabric cam beingmovable into and out of operating position, and independently slidingneedles for knitting the back of the fabric, said needles being composedof a number of intermixed lots equal to the number of said fancy-effectneedleprojecting cams, the needles of each lot being provided with buttsengageable by one of said fancy-effect needle-projecting cams, and

- fabric needle-projecting cam,

ing means for feeding simultaneously a plu-- rality of yarns separately,pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face of the fabricis knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively, a pluralityof fancy-effect needle-projecting cams for the needles on which the backof the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted at different distancesfrom the edge of the bed for said back-forming needles and beingallocated to different simultaneously-fed yarns, and at least oneplain-fabric needle-projecting cam, for needles on which the back of thefabric is knitted, mounted in substantially the same angular position asone of said fancy-effect cams and being movable into and out ofoperating position, said fancy-effect and plainfabric cams togetherbeing located at more than two different distances from the edge of thebed for said back-forming needles, and at least all of said fancy-effectneedleprojecting cams other than the such as are located insubstantially the same angular position as said one plain-fabric cambeing movable into and out of operating osition, and independentlysliding needles fbr knitting the back of the fabric, said needles beingcomposed of a plurality of intermixed lots equal in number to the numberof said fancy: efl'ect cams, the needles of each lot bei provided withbutts to engage with one of said fancy-effect cams, some of the needleshaving butts engageable with the said one plain fabric cam, and the saidone plain fabric cam, and the fancy eflect cam occupying the sameangular position being operable simultaneously.

17. In a circular multi-needle-bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans including means for feeding'simultaneously a plurality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,a plurality of fancy-eflect needle-projecting cams for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted atdifferent distances from the edge of the bed for said back-formingneedles and being allocated to different multaneously-fed yarns, atleast one plainfor the needles on which the back of the fabric isknitted, so placed as to cause needles projected by it to knit from oneof the yarns of the knitting machine and being movable into and out ofoperating position, said fancy-effect and plain-fabric cams togetherbeing located at yarns of said plurality of yarns of said plurality ofsimore than two different distances from the I netadle-projectlng cam,

and at least such of said fancy-effect needle projecting cams other thanany that may occupy substantially the same angular position ,as saidplain fabric cam being movable into and out of operating position, atleast one further plain fabric needle-projecting cam, for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, so placed as to cause needlesprojected by it to knit from one of the yarns of the knitting machineand being movable into and out of operating position, and independentlysliding needles for knitting the back of the fabric, said needles beingcomposed of a plurality of intermixed lots equal in number to the numberof said fancy-effect cams, the needles of each lot being provided withbutts for engagement with one of said fancy-effect cams, some of theneedles having butts for engagement with the first mentioned plainfabric cam, and some of the needles having butts for engagement with thesecond mentioned plain fabric cam.

18. In a circular multi-needle-bed knitting machine having yarn-feedingmeans includ ing means for feeding simultaneously a plurality of yarnsseparately, pattern mechanism to cause the needles on which the face ofthe fabric is knitted to knit from said plurality of yarns selectively,a plurality of fancy-effect needle-projecting cams for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, said cams being mounted atdifferent distances from the edge of the bed for said back-formingneedles and being allocated to different yarns of said plurality ofsimultaneously fed-yarns, at least one plain fabric for the needles onwhich the back of the fabric is knitted, located in substantially thesame angular position as one of said fancy-effect cams and being movableinto and out of operating position, said fancy-effect and plain fabriccams together being located at three different distances from the edgeof the bed for said backforming needles, and at least those fancy effectcams other than the said fancy-effect cam located in about the sameangular position as said plain fabric cam being movable into and outofoperating position, at least one further plain fabric needle-projectingcam, for the needles on which the back of the fabric is knit-ted,located in substantially the same angular position as one of theaforementioned cams and at substantially the same distance from the edgeof said bed for the back-forming needles as one of the aforementionedcams, of the last mentioned fancyefl'ect cams and the last mentionedplain fabric cam, one being thick and the other thin, independentlysliding needles for knitting the backs of the fabrics, said needlesbeing composed of intermixed lots equal in number to the number of saidfancy-effect cams, the needles of each lot being provided with butts forengagement by one of said fancy-effect cams, some of said needles havingbutts engageable by the first mentioned plain fabric cam, and someneedles having long butts and others having short butts at the distancefrom the ends of the needles of those butts which are engageable withthat fancy-effect cam which is at the same distance from the edge of theneedle bed as the second mentioned plain-fabric cam.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

J ULIUS SIRMAY.

